Hydrogen Bonds In Molecular Mechanics Force Fields

Helix formation is of great significance in protein folding. The helix-forming tendencies of amino acids are accumulated along the sequence to determine the helix-forming tendency of peptides. Computer simulation can be used to model this process in atomic details and give structural insights. In the current work, we employ equilibrate-state free energy simulation to systematically study the folding/unfolding thermodynamics of a series of mutated peptides. Two AMBER force fields including AMBER99SB and AMBER14SB are compared. The new 14SB force field uses refitted torsion parameters compared with 99SB and they share the same atomic charge scheme. We find that in vacuo the helix formation is mutation dependent, which reflects the different helix propensities of different amino acids. In general, there are helix formers, helix indifferent groups and helix breakers. The helical structure becomes more favored when the length of the sequence becomes longer, which arises from the formation of additional backbone hydrogen bonds in the lengthened sequence. Therefore, the helix indifferent groups and helix breakers will become helix formers in long sequences. Also, protonation-dependent helix formation is observed for ionizable groups. In 14SB, the helical structures are more stable than in 99SB and differences can be observed in their grouping schemes, especially in the helix indifferent group. In solvents, all mutations are helix indifferent due to protein–solvent interactions. The decrease in the number of backbone hydrogen bonds is the same with the increase in the number of protein–water hydrogen bonds. The 14SB in explicit solvent is able to capture the free energy minima in the helical state while 14SB in implicit solvent, 99SB in explicit solvent and 99SB in implicit solvent cannot. The helix propensities calculated under 14SB agree with the corresponding experimental values, while the 99SB results obviously deviate from the references. Hence, implicit solvent models are unable to correctly describe the thermodynamics even for the simple helix formation in isolated peptides. Well-developed force fields and explicit solvents are needed to correctly describe the protein dynamics. Aside from the free energy, differences in conformational ensemble under different force fields in different solvent models are observed. The numbers of hydrogen bonds formed under different force fields agree and they are mostly determined by the solvent model.

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A new electrostatic model for molecular mechanics force fields

Journal of Molecular Structure ◽

10.1016/s0022-2860(00)00641-4 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 556 (1-3) ◽

pp. 1-21 ◽

Cited By ~ 48

Author(s):

B. Mannfors ◽

K. Palmo ◽

S. Krimm

Keyword(s):

Molecular Mechanics ◽

Force Fields ◽

Electrostatic Model

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Inclusion of charge and polarizability fluxes provides needed physical accuracy in molecular mechanics force fields

Chemical Physics Letters ◽

10.1016/j.cplett.2006.08.087 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 429 (4-6) ◽

pp. 628-632 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Kim Palmo ◽

Berit Mannfors ◽

Noemi G. Mirkin ◽

Samuel Krimm

Keyword(s):

Molecular Mechanics ◽

Force Fields

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Studies on the Nature and Strength of Pt . . .H(-N) Interactions. The Crystal Structures of Chloro[N-(2-aminoethyl)-N-(2-ammonioethyl)ethane-1,2-diamine]platinum(II) Chloride and Dichloro[4,7-diaza-1-azoniacyclononane]platinum(II) Tetrachlor

Australian Journal of Chemistry ◽

10.1071/ch00039 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 53 (6) ◽

pp. 451 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Murray S. Davies ◽

Ronald R. Fenton ◽

Fazlul Huq ◽

Edwina C. H. Ling ◽

Trevor W. Hambley

Keyword(s):

Hydrogen Bond ◽

Hydrogen Bonds ◽

Molecular Mechanics ◽

Metal Ion ◽

Monoclinic Space Group ◽

Space Group ◽

X Ray ◽

Protonated Amine ◽

Protonated Amines ◽

Close Contacts

Two complexes, namely, chloro[N-(2-aminoethyl)-N-(2-ammonioethyl)ethane-1,2-diamine]platinum(II) chloride {[PtCl(tren+H)]Cl2} and dichloro[4,7-diaza-1-azoniacyclononane]platinum(II) tetrachloroplatinate(II)–water (1/2) {[PtCl2(tacn+H)]2[PtCl4]·2H2O}, have been prepared and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffractometry as part of a study of the nature and strength of Pt···H(–N) interactions. Crystals of [PtCl(tren+H)]Cl2 are monoclinic, space group P21/c, a 8.293(2), b 14.396(6), c 11.305(3) Å, β 107.34(2)º, Z 4, and the structure has been refined to a residual of 0.042 based on 1631 reflections. Crystals of [PtCl2(tacn+H)]2[PtCl4]·2H2O are monoclinic, space group P21/a, a 12.834(4), b 8.206(4), c 13.116(8) Å, β 93.01(4)˚, Z 2, and the structure has been refined to a residual of 0.035 based on 1974 reflections. In [PtCl(tren+H)]2+, the protonated amine forms hydrogen bonds with chloride anions and no close contacts with the metal ion. In [PtCl2(tacn+H)]+, a short intramolecular contact is observed between the metal and the protonated amine and the results of molecular mechanics modelling are consistent with there being a Pt···H hydrogen bond. Molecular mechanics modelling of [PtCl(tren+H)]2+ and [PtCl2(dien+H)]+ shows that the protonated amines could readily form close contacts with the metal. It is concluded that there is evidence for the formation of Pt···H(–N) hydrogen bonds but these bonds are very weak, being similar or lower in energy than Cl···H(–NPt) hydrogen bonds.

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